B’nai B’rith UK’s 13th annual European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage programme got off to a festive start on Sunday with synagogues opening up their succahs to the wider public.

With “Judaism and the Natural World” as its theme, it was an apposite opportunity to explain the significance of the succah, the lulav and the etrog.

There was an impressive turnout in Cheltenham, with 250 people at an open day. At Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation, local historian and guide Gordon Franks reported an attendance of 170. “There was a real buzz all day and many visitors stayed on to ask questions,” he said...more.

Township council passed a resolution to accept the Camden County Department of Homeland Security, Emergency Management Performance Grant Program Funding at last week’s meeting.According to township communications director Bridget Palmer, the township applies for the grant every year. The township was awarded $5,000 to offset the costs of emergency management coordinator Kevin Seta.

The day the award was announced, Sept. 11, was not lost on anyone, with the presentation of two grants, adding to the township’s safety.

B’nai B’rith Couples Unit 5220 presented a $500 grant and the Saltzman House Social Club presented a $100 grant to the police department to purchase first responder kits for the patrol cars.

“These kits allow our officers to provide a higher level of medical attention and treatment at the scene of a critical incident,” said Lt. Sean Redmond of the Cherry Hill Police Department. “The equipment and training allow officers to initially treat more severe injuries temporarily until further life-saving techniques can be administered.” ...more.

Melbourne’s B’nai B’rith has released a special Raoul Wallenberg Stamp Sheet cancelled by Australia Post with a special postmark.

The B’nai B’rith Raoul Wallenberg Unit had been instrumental in suggesting that Raoul Wallenberg be made Australia’s First and Only Honorary Citizen which happened in early May when Governor General Quentin Bryce bestowed the honour at Government House, Canberra. At the time Julia Gillard was Prime Minister and Tony Abbott was Opposition Leader. Both spoke at the function attended by politicians and representative ambassadors from a number of countries including Canada, Hungary, Israel and Sweden...more.

Kosovo’s deputy foreign minister urged American Jewish groups to press Israel for recognition of the country.

In a meeting Wednesday with Jewish officials in Washington, Petrit Selimi said his nation’s pro-American tilt and record of ethnic Albanians protecting Jews during the Holocaust made relations between the two countries a natural.

“With such a deep, historic link, it’s only natural to have Israeli recognition,” Selimi told JTA. “Israel is not just a a country, it is an important country, influential in the community of nations.”

NCSJ: National Conference Supporting Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, convened the meeting with Selimi. Mark Levin, the group’s director, said Selimi raised the issue of Israeli recognition, but no commitment was made to press Israel on the matter.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of B’nai B’rith International, the Anti-Defamation League and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society...more.

Over the past 14 years, the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage (EDJCH), organised, co-ordinated and promoted in this country by B’nai B’rith UK (BBUK), have become an established feature in the UK Jewish calendar, and continue to enjoy great success.

The waves of Jewish immigration from 1066-1290 and from 1656 onwards have left traces of Jewish presence that can still be seen today, even where there are no longer Jewish communities.

Medieval settlements included London, Lincoln, Bury St. Edmunds, Norwich, Northampton and Oxford, while during the 18th century Jewish migrants arrived in the West Country and pogroms and persecution from the mid-19th century brought Jews to the larger English cities and to more remote areas, as well as to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland...more.